Whether
an expert or beginner golfer, more and more women golfers will receive an
invitation to play golf. In additional
to a corporate golf event, more charities are using golf as the venue to raise both
awareness and funds for their cause.
Here are some tips to make your golf experience stress-less, enjoyable
and productive.

Tip
Number One: Be comfortable with your
appearance. Unless it’s an all-women event, there will
usually be fewer women than men. You will stand out in the crowd! Wear an outfit that you are comfortable
in. Confidence is very important in the
game of golf. Remember:
When you bend down to tee your ball up on the tee, three other golfers
will see your backside. Be brave and check that backside view in a mirror
before you head off to the course. (Most
tee boxes are set up for right-handed players and golf carts are on the left
side of tee.)

. Tip
Number Two: Play in your comfort zone. If
you are a very good golfer with a handicap of ten or less -- only ten percent
of women golfers are in that zone – you should be comfortable accepting an
invitation to play golf with anyone - anywhere.
Your male team colleagues and clients will love to play with you
especially when you tee it up from their tees.At
the other extreme, if you have played only a few times and are still whiffing
or dubbing balls, it may be best to decline the invitation until your game
improves. . However, if you are invited
by another beginner golfer and together you can manage your expectations, it
could be lots of fun for both of you.. Another
exception would be if you are invited to a corporate golf event that is clearly
advertised as "fun" and uses a "scramble" format. In a scramble format, you can always be your
team’s star putter on the green. .Most
women golfers fall in between the extremes.
So how good do you have to be for business golf? Here’s a guideline: Most-of-the-time,
you should be able to hit a ball about 100 yards off the tee, hit a middle iron
(or hybrid club) at least 75 yards on the fairway, hit out of a bunker
successfully two out of three times, know how to reach a green when you are 50
yards from the flagstick, take only one practice swing, three-putt --or less on
most greens , know proper green etiquette and know when to give up and put the
ball in your pocket.

Tip
Number Three – Play quickly.
How do you know if you play fast enough?
Take this “pace-of-play” test on a day when your course is not
busy. Play 9 holes just by yourself, and see if you finish the nine holes in 90
minutes or less. If you pass that test,
you are have a good pace-of-play and should be comfortable accepting most
business golf invitations. And
remember: Unless you are playing in
serious competition, if you are having a very bad hole, it is usually okay to
pick up your ball saying “I’m out of this hole.” And hope for miracles on the next tee.

Tip
Number Four: Know when to talk about
business. Believe it or not, men seldom talk shop on the course. So, if you are playing with men, do not talk
about the office or your new product or the next sale until the round is
finished – maybe over a drink on the 19th hole. Build the relationship on the course but
make the sale the next day. The
business-talk-rule is different if you are playing with women. Women are experts at multi-tasking. So, playing golf and talking business at the
same time, could be a win-win.

Tip
Number Five: Don’t be afraid to invite
colleagues to play golf. If
you are a good golfer and know your comfort zone, don't hesitate to invite
female or male colleagues for a round of golf.
You do not have to belong to a fancy private club to provide your guests
with a good golf experience. There are many
excellent public facilities. When
inviting guests to play always check ahead to find out about dress codes,
locker room facilities, on-course amenities including beverages and fool-proof
directions. And, make sure that the
tee-yardages will work for you and your guests.
Always check the forward tees.
Any course with a USGA Slope from the forward tee of more than 125 -- or one that plays longer than 5300 yards
from the forward tee – could have
challenging features for women golfers. And don’t forget to make a specific
tee-time reservation at the golf course!

Tip
Number Six: Host a group lesson. Many
women are interested in learning to play golf.
Consider hosting a group lesson just for your colleagues. Ask a
local instructor that you have met and liked to provide a private lesson either
on the practice tee or on a few holes on the course. Include lunch or cocktails if within your
schedule and budget. For help in
finding an instructor go to www.lpga.com or www.playgolfamerica.com. Both sites offer sections that allow you to
search by zip codes for professional instructors.

Tip Number Seven: Follow-up. Whether it's a call the next day to say,
"How about that contract?" or a "Thank You" note to cement
a relationship, think about your golf experience as an on-going
investment. You are guaranteed to make
new friends and hopefully improve your bottom line in business -- and on your
scorecard.